Hawaiians protest construction of telescope on sacred ground

Native Hawaiians are protesting the planned construction of a 30-metre telescope on Mauna Kea. Demonstrations on the site began March 30th when activists formed a roadblock around the Mauna Kea visitors’ centre to stop the $1.4 billion dollar project. Protesters, calling themselves the Protectors of Mauna Kea, believe the site is the "most sacred" land on all of the islands, but the telescope's developer and the University of Hawaii contend the land is owned by the state.

Hawaiians protest construction of telescope on sacred ground

Project temporarily halted, as protests continue.

A few days after several protesters were arrested, the governor issued a halt on construction for a period of one week. Those opposing the project say they are not against science, but argue the location of the telescope will desecrate holy land.

The protests have prompted at least one scientist to think more critically about the impact of her work on indigenous lands.

#aoleTMT has got me thinking… How can I better acknowledge & engage with the Indigenous people on whose land I do my science? 1/2Karen James

Critics of the protests maintain the project is for scientific purposes only.

We should build the #TMT (30m telescope) on Mauna Kea. Scientific correctness over political correctness. @BadAstronomer thoughts?Philip Bergen

They need to keep working on the telescope and arrest anyone who tries to stop them. #WeAreMaunaKeaPrinnyCast

This is not the first time Native Hawaiians have taken action to stop the building of telescopes on Mauna Kea. In 2006, NASA terminated funding on the Outrigger Telescope Project after a judge overruled a permit for several telescopes planned for the site.

Hawaii was annexed against the will of its ppl.Astro find the #aoleTMT protests frustrating?Try being a Native person for the last 500 yrs.Chanda (王嬋娟)

A chang.org petition created to immediately halt both construction and arrests has more than 34,000 supporters.